June Books 7) What It Is We Do When We Read Science Fiction, by Paul Kincaid
This is another Hugo nominee in the Best Related Book category, a collection of Paul Kincaid's excellent essays and talks about sf. I particularly enjoyed the first quarter of the book, which includes the title essay and some fascinating analysis of various sf encyclopedias, Year's Bests, and the influence of Conrad's Heart of Darkness on the genre. There are substantial sections on two authors, Christopher Priest and Gene Wolfe, and also essays on various British sf writers, and writers from elsewhere (including an excellent piece on Borges). There is a surgical dissection of Haldeman's Forever Free, which I would point out as a great justification by example of writing negative reviews (in case anyone thinks such justification is necessary). I admit that I skimmed the chapters on books or writers which I don't know so well, but it is all entertaining and insightful, as you would expect. Strongly recommended, if you can actually get hold of it.
